Christopher 18th century, but did not become

Christopher Columbus’s day is celebrated on October 12th,
every year, “it was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as
early as the 18th century, but did not become a federal holiday until 1937.” Columbus Day. We celebrate his
accomplishments as an American hero, but was he really a hero? Christopher Columbus
never discovered America, he enslaved native people, and he was arrested by the
Spanish Government.

Christopher Columbus was credited with the discovery of America,
when in fact it wasn’t Columbus at all. It was Leif Eriksson who discovered America.
“Leif Eriksson is the first European believed to have sailed to North America,
having reached Canada 500 years before Columbus set sail to the west.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain. Columbus
never set foot on our North American shores, “he explored the Central and South
American coasts, but he never reached North America.” Christopher Columbus: 3 things you think he did that he didn’t. Columbus
should’ve never been credited with discovering America when he never stepped
foot in America.

We Will Write a Custom Essay SpecificallyFor You For Only $13.90/page!

Christopher Columbus enslaved the Native people. When Columbus
set foot in Hispaniola he ran into the Native people, the Taino. The Taino “a
friendly group, they willingly traded jewelry, animals, and supplies with the
sailors.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or
Villain? Columbus wrote in his diary that the Tainos had very good body
builds, and that they would make very good servants. “They do not carry arms or
know them….They should be good servants.” Christopher
Columbus: Hero or Villain? The Taions were then forced into slavery, and if
they did not collect enough gold they were punished with a loss of a limb or
death. “Between the European’s brutal treatment and their infectious diseases,
within decades, the Taino population was decimated.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain? The population ended up
dying off because of Columbus’s brutal treatment.

Columbus was arrested by the Spanish government. “In 1499,
the Spanish monarchs got wind of the mistreatment of Spanish colonists in
Hispaniola, including the flogging and executions without trial.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain? When
the government got word that Columbus was mistreating these natives, they
chained him up, arrested him, and brought him back to Spain. “Although some of
the charges may have been manufactured by his political enemies, Columbus
admitted to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that many of the accusations were
true.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or
Villain? Columbus was then stripped of his title of “governor”.

Even though Columbus did do some very bad things, he created
a pathway between the new and old world. Columbus did start the trading process
of food, animals, plants, culture, and even disease. “Once the Europeans were able to reach nearly
all parts of the globe, a new modern age would begin, transforming the world
forever.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or
Villain? Christopher Columbus did change the world in a positive way by
starting to trade.

Celebrating Columbus Day, is it worth it? Columbus did do
more bad then good. Christopher Columbus never discovered America, “Leif
Eriksson is the first European believed to have sailed to North America, having
reached Canada 500 years before Columbus set sail to the west.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain. Columbus
enslaved the native people, “They do not carry arms or know them….They should
be good servants.” Christopher Columbus:
Hero or Villain? Columbus was arrested by the Spanish Government, “In 1499,
the Spanish monarchs got wind of the mistreatment of Spanish colonists in
Hispaniola, including the flogging and executions without trial.” Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain? Columbus
did create a pathway from a new world to an old world, Columbus started the
trading process of food, animals, plants, and culture. People today still use
the trading meconium.